German guitarist Herbert Grönemeyer plays Keswick Theatre in Glenside

I’m quite excited and quite nervous,” said the talented German guitarist Herbert Grönemeyer in a recent interview to discuss his upcoming road tour in America.

So why would an experienced and popular musician/actor who is the most successful artist in Germany (and who once starred on TV as well as the big screen alongside such noted stars as Nastassja Kinski, Burt Lancaster and Julie Christie) be nervous doing what he’s come to do best?

“I’m German, and we like to worry,” he said with a jovial laugh.

Grönemeyer and his five member pop/rock/soft rock band have been very successful in Europe over the past four decades with sales recordings in the double digits. His albums “4630 Bochum” (1984) and “Mensch” (2002) are two of the greatest artistic successes in German history; the latter going to platinum status even before its official release.

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However, this year, he and his band will be charting new territory as they bring their “I Walk Live” tour to America and Canada for the first time. “I Walk” is the recent English-language debut release in the U.S. for Grönemeyer, where he is joined by Bono on vocals.

The 57-year-old German-bred London resident began his career early, at age 8, when he began his interest in the piano. By 13, he’d formed his own band and then segued to the theater by 17. Eventually, his acting skills (all attained without acting lessons) lent the opportunity for numerous television appearances and movies, including “Das Boot” (he played Lieutenant Werner), among other German films where he acted as well as created award-winning musical scores.

Despite his successful achievements in acting, he found his niche and true contentment in music. In between his acting performances, including the stage play role of Lorenzo in “The Merchant of Venice,” Grönemeyer continued recording albums and writing music.

In 1994, Grönemeyer was the first non-English-speaking artist who was invited by MTV to do an unplugged concert, and in 2004, he recorded the song “Everlasting” for the Olympic Games and also the song for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Grönemeyer, like a lot of artists, has met with tragedy and grown from the experiences. In 1998, he lost his beloved wife, Anna, as well as his brother Wilhelm, all within three days.

In 2005, Time magazine awarded him “European Hero” for his humanitarian work. In 2007, he’d been scheduled to make his American debut at New York City’s Beacon Theater, but circumstances prevented the opportunity.

Now, six years later, he’s landed the chance to come to America, and he’s amazed at what he’s found here.

“I’ve lived for 12 years in London. For us, in Europe, we don’t have that space. We live more squeezed together. Once you see America, you understand a little bit better of the nature (of God). In Europe, we don’t have that.”

For Grönemeyer and his band mates, this tour is special and will take some adjusting, he said, to comprehend the vastness of what the country offers.

“We’re like little kids. We’ve always wanted to play in America,” he said. “Now, a dream has come true.”

His ideal gig is to perform in both German and English.

“We did that in New York and Chicago . In a way, sometimes the German language gives a different flavor to a song.”

Grönemeyer ’s work is both ballad and up-tempo songs “without a particular style.” But the key word he used in describing his work is that it is melodious.